There's more rain and the possibility of additional flooding here in New England. But, we New Englanders are a hardy bunch. We keep on keeping on as they say. When things dry out we'll be ready for some serious bocce!

There's lots of tournament information in this issue. Those of you who don't normally play in tourneys ought to consider giving one a try. Even if you get "spanked" in the event, you're likely to have an enjoyable experience and meet some nice people with whom you share a love of bocce. I find that even when I get trounced in a tourney, I learn a little and get just a little bit better. Enjoy!

"It’s time to register for the United States Bocce Federation National Tournament! The tournament, which will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, is scheduled for June 21-27. The registration deadline is May 8, 2010. No matter what your skill level, there is a game for you. In order to register for the tournament, get forms at http://www.stlbocce.com or http://www.bocce.com .

In addition to medals and money, however, winning teams in the Punto Raffa Volo category will be awarded the honor of representing the United States against Canada in the 2010 North American Championship and Club PRV winner in the World Tournament.

This will be the fifth time the Italia-America Bocce Club in St. Louis has hosted the national tournament. The club, founded in 1975, has been in its present quarters since 1994. The club facilities are among the very best. Five tournament-caliber bocce courts, surfaced by Italian artisans, are surrounded by plexiglass for safety. There is a conveniently located full-service bar, as well as a full kitchen and an elegant area for dining and dancing.

One of the main attractions of the club is its location in the heart of 'The Hill', the City’s traditional Italian Neighborhood. And it really is a neighborhood. There are dozens of restaurants to choose from – Italian and otherwise – many of them within easy walking distance of the Club. Located within only a few blocks of the club are several Italian grocery stores, bakeries and delis -- even a gelateria/coffee shop. St. Ambrose Catholic Church is only one block away.

Additionally, only a short drive away, the City offers visitors the world-class Missouri Botanical Garden and the St. Louis Zoo, with rhinos on the Riverwalk, and its new Puffin and Penguin area. Entry to the Zoo is free – as is entry to the St. Louis Art Museum. Both the Zoo and the Art Museum are located in Forest Park, which is also home to 36 holes of golf, boating for children and adults alike, several restaurants and The Muny. The Muny is a large outdoor theater in the park which presents a new production weekly.

Lumiere Place is a grand downtown casino with all the amenities. And when you win big, the shopping in St. Louis is topnotch. It’s all here – from Macy’s to Nieman-Marcus.

The USBF Tournament will open on June 21 with a Welcome Reception. The tournament will include both Open Bocce and Punto Raffa Volo.

Two Open Bocce tournaments will be played at the same time on June 22 and 23: the USBF Open Championship and the St. Louis Money Tournament. The USBF Open Championship will have one division only. Participating teams must have four members (men, women or mixed) and team members need not belong to the same club. Medals will be awarded to the first, second and third-place teams. The entry fee for this tournament is $60.00 per player.

The St. Louis Money Tournament will also have only one division and will require four-member teams (men, women or mixed). Again, team members do not have to belong to the same club. At this time, the club anticipates that a minimum of $4,000.00 will be awarded as prize money to the top four teams. Entry fee for the Money Tournament is $75.00 per person.

There will also be two Punto Raffa Volo tournaments played concurrently: the USBF Club Punto Raffa Volo Championship and the USBF Women’s Team Punto Raffa Volo Championship. These tournaments will be played on June 24-26 and will be continued on June 27 if necessary.

In the USBF Punto Raffa Volo Championship, a team may have either three or four players. A team may be composed of all men, or men and women. All players on a team must belong to the same club. The entry fee for this tournament is $60.00 per person.

Teams in the USBF Women’s Team Punto Raffa Volo Championship may consist of three or four women. Mixed teams are not permitted. Team members, however, do not have to belong to the same club. The entry fee is $60.00 per person.

The first and second place Punto Raffa Volo teams in the USBF Club Championship and the Women’s Team Championship will represent the USA against Canada in the North American Championship which will also be held at St. Louis’s Italia-America Bocce Club, October 7-10, 2010. The USBF Club Punto Raffa Volo Champions will also represent the United States at the World Tournament at a site to be determined.

The National Tournament in St. Louis will conclude with an Awards Banquet on June 26, 2010. The cost of the banquet is $35.00 and tickets should be purchased at the time of registration, since only a limited number of tickets will be available the week of the tournament.

Anyone participating in the USBF National Tournament must have a current USBF membership card. Again, registration forms are available at www.stlbocce.com or www.bocce.com."

The Italia- America Bocce Club-St. Louis, 2210 Marconi, St. Louis, Mo. 63110 will be hosting a Punto, Raffa Volo referee class on Saturday May 8, 2010. It will start at 10:00 am until 4:00pm. At the class you will be able to become a certified Punto Raffa Volo referee.

The class will be given by Ron Jacobs, USBF board of director and Danny Passaglia USBF President.
The cost of the class is $30.00 which includes lunch.
Please be prepared by going to the USBF website http://www.bocce.com - look under bocce rules and print out the CBI Punto Raffa Volo rules. Study the rules and, if you have any questions, write them down prior to the class.

Deadline to register for the class is May 3, 2010.
Questions - contact Robert Della Croce at rdc1002@sbcglobal.net or call 314-477-0154.

Make check out to the Italia-America Bocce Club
Mail to: Robert Della Croce
Referee Clinic
5517 Eichelberger
St. Louis, Mo. 63109

Guy De Santis (Yonkers/Mt.Vernon Bocce Club) has a tourney coming up too...

"Just want to inform everyone that on Saturday April 17th the Yonkers/Mt.Vernon Bocce Club will be hosting their annual spring tournament. Everyone participating must be a registered United States Bocce Federation member for the 2010 year (must show card). Players without a membership card MUST register with our club on tournament day.

Tournament fee is $35 per person (food included)
4 players per team (2 at each end of the court)
USBF rules will apply."

{My publishing timing was off a tad for this news, but it is still worth noting.}

"On March 28, Puget Sound Bocce will present a live streaming Webcast from the Tacoma Elks Lodge for the Tacoma Elks Spring Bocce team tournament. The Webcast will start at 10 am PDT/6 pm GMT and is planned to continue to the end of the tournament. There is no way of knowing how the broadcast will turn out, as this is a pilot broadcast, which if successful will bring consideration for future Webcasts. There is a chat area available with linkages to Facebook and Twitter if you want to say hello or provide comments or ask questions. This is not going to be formal, so please feel free to chat on-line with me!

There is also a 20-minute video on the 2010 Puget Sound Bocce calendar linked to the Auburn Bocce Club’s Website. From the main page, click on 'Bocce News' (or this link), which will take you to an embedded player which will play the video from LiveStream. The video isn’t great production material, but I hope that it will illustrate what can be done to promote our game and give you some ideas as well.

The Puget Sound Bocce 2010 event calendar has been updated on the ABC Web site to include the Sons of Italy tournament on June 5, and additional dates for the US Nationals Open and Punto-Raffa-Volo events held in the third week of June. I have also received a couple of requests to make a text-based version of the 2010 calendar, so on the When/Where We Play page where you currently can view the PDF of the 2010 calendar, all of the events will also be listed in LARGE TEXT and also be hyperlinked where additional on-line or e-mail contact info for the event is available.

Hope you can join us for a Sunday smash-a-thon streamed straight to your desktop, laptop or smartphone! Keep on rolling!"

"As a certified Special Olympics coach who runs a SO Bocce training program in New York, I thought this might be of interest to your readers. The message is really a great one!

Special Olympics has launched a brand new public service announcement as a part of their ongoing ‘Be a Fan’ campaign entitled 'Skeleton' that encourages viewers to see the athlete first. The 30-second spot was created by international advertising agency, BBDO Worldwide, and features Mario Ogunbowale, a 21-year-old Special Olympics athlete hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The PSA depicts CG-animated skeletons playing basketball skillfully. As they do, their bodies build up layer by layer—i.e. their organs appear, followed by their nervous system, etc. In closing, the viewer sees that the star basketball player, now fully formed, is actually Ogunbowale, and a super appears: 'see the athlete first'.

Ogunbowale was selected by Special Olympics to showcase his basketball skills in the global PSA after Special Olympics Wisconsin submitted his name for consideration after Mario’s team received the gold medal at the Wisconsin State Special Olympic Games earlier in 2009. Ogunbowale plays on the Milwaukee Blazers Special Olympics basketball team and enthusiastically showcased his personality to his fans after their gold medal win. Ogunbowale started competing with Special Olympics at age 16 and currently competes in basketball, track and bowling. Special Olympics, through sport, has been working to change attitudes about people with intellectual disabilities and help society see their capabilities.

Throughout the world, according to research, the public significantly underestimates the capabilities of people with intellectual disabilities which creates social stigmas and severely limits opportunities for them to participate in society. Due to the great vision of founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympic movement has been working to dispel misunderstanding and build communities of acceptance and respect for all."

John Malady of Mechanicsburg, PA (near Harrisburg) sent this last week...

"Can you direct me to someone that can assist me regarding cats? Neighbor cats seem to enjoy the really large and convenient Litter Box that we built in our yard.

How do you prevent them from using it?"

Boccemon Tom McNutt sent this in response...

"Folks often inquire about this as they consider putting down a fine bocce court surface. I can tell you that cats hate our oyster blend. They may walk through it once but as soon as they lick their paws afterwards they realize this is not a place to play or poop. The shell fragments act like diatomaceous earth and it is very unpleasant for cats to walk through, let alone dig in. Won't hurt them but they don't like it."

"Don't miss 'Bocce Ball at The Hall' on April 24th at Heathwood Hall in Columbia. Visit http://www.so-sc.org to get your registration form. $100 per 4-man team brings you a full day of bocce competition, fun and support for Special Olympics athletes in South Carolina.

This event is hosted by the Richland County Sheriff's Department. Bocce is a game that the entire family can enjoy, bring your family, bring your friends, bring your workmates and join in on the fastest growing (and the most fun) game in the world."

"The tournament ended up on Sunday at 2 PM because a huge storm forced water in one of the courts and only 3 courts were available on the first day of the competition.

The result was anticipated because the favorite team was made up of Jorge Moreno and Fabio (two internationally known, exceptional players) and Rosario Cavalli, a good local player. However, they lost a couple of games because there was good competition.

There was participation of 21 teams (Triples) and players came from Chicago, Conn., DL, Canada and other areas of the country.

Local organizers from the Cape Coral Bocce Association did a superb job and special accolades go to Skinny Battista, Lawrence Bennett and George Furlan (who guaranteed the prizes).

The winning team took $6,000, 2nd place $2,000, 3rd $1000, 4th $750 and 5th and 6th $500.

Looks like Elizabeth Jade Fontana pulled off her PRV tourney (Ruby Raffa Classic) with flying colors. She sends the following write-up and a slew of excellent photos...

“I wanted to do a women's tournament like I have seen and participated in Italy. Where teams are pretty evenly matched because they are made up of women one from each Category A, B, and C. Especially with the Italian women's tournaments, they find sponsors and donors for their raffles or drawings.

The conception of any dream is the easy part, it's being able to deliver that is the toughest part. Finding players who would participate and support the concept, there will be some doubts and doubters, ‘While we strongly support expanding the ranks of US women raffa players, we do not think the ideas/format under consideration will accomplish that goal.’ When this happens, you press on with the 90% who do support you.

{There are always detractors. People who are Do-ers always get criticized by the Talk-ers. Some people see other people's success as their failure...a sad commentary on human nature.}

How to find donors and sponsors? First and foremost, you look to your friends, supporters of bocce, and be one yourself. Competitive raffa players owned their own set of beautiful balls. With the growth of raffa, there are more sales of balls and bocce accessories. Mike Grasser of DaVinci Bocce has always been a contributor to this sport in America from providing the seasoned players with the best assortment of bocce apparel, the beautiful colors of Super Martel bocce balls, and with his organization of the annual North American Pallino d'Oro tournaments. Mike provided our tournament with a beautiful bocce set of Super Martel ‘Geos’ with matching bag, and 6 ball cloths to give away.

Next, some if not most bocce players drink. From a lowly beer Miller's Genuine Draft to a bottle of California's best wines, a way to wind down from that competitive high or to celebrate that winning frame, bocce players aren't tea drinkers. A friend of mine, Billy Shawver of ‘Hula Girl’ tropical rum beverages supplied us with almost 200 assorted bottles of this island paradise drink.

Twenty-five years ago, I used to do wedding videography before I became a teacher. One of my clients, Rima Barkett of Massa Carrera, Italy has now published an excellent Italian cookbook, ‘Cooking Dinner - Simple Italian Family Recipes that Everyone Can Make’. She donated one of her cookbooks and gave a humorous, yet insightful presentation at the tournament luncheon. ‘The funny thing is that when I came to this country I noticed that people ate in the car, not an ice cream but a WHOLE meal! And I did not know what the holes in the car were for (cup holders) or why people needed to be drinking tubs of whatever at their desks all day long. As you know, in Italy we eat and drink only at meal time, not all day long.’

We were able to have a drawing for her 'ready to prepare' Focaccia mixes. { www.ATavolaTogether.com }

Because Stockton is located in the heart of California's agricultural region, we are fortunate to have the freshest of cherries, tomatoes, peaches, walnuts, and our very own celebrated Asparagus Festival. Richard Bozzano, a farmer in the field and our friend on the bocce courts, donated 3 crates of asparagus to our players.

Another drinking buddy of mine, Don Lovecchio, has the largest produce warehouse in Stockton, so he generously offered three gift boxes of an assortment of fruits for our tournament giveaway.

Jerry South, the USBF Western Sector vice-president, donated $30 for the ‘South of the Border’ drawing to a lucky player coming from the East Bay. Several men volunteered many hours to referee the matches and provided other support services: Vern Cooper, Jack Woo, Manny Romo, Albert Leonardi, and Ron Jacobs.

And last, not least, my dearest friend and biggest bocce supporter is of course Rino Nencini, my 88 year old bocce coach from Firenze Italia. He is still a Category A player on and off of the courts. He gave me 16 new Firenze Bocce team club shirts and a deluxe bocce bag for the tournament drawing.

This tournament theme was Hawaiian since it is named after my mother who lives in Hawaii. I brought back Hawaiian charms for all of the players, and 6 Hawaiian beach bags for the giveaway. But the most sought-after prizes of this tournament were the six 18 kt. gold Italian bocce medals that I purchased in Viareggio, Italy.

The excitement of this tournament encouraged new women to practice the raffa style of bocce. Some were even practicing on Sunday after church. We even had 8 men to help fill out the formation of the entry-level teams. Many of the women brought wonderful baked items and decorations to show their spirit and enthusiasm. I couldn't have done it without them.

After a whole day of Punto Raffa Volo bocce with 16 teams of 40 women and 8 men, the winner of the those Super Martel ‘Geos’ was Lena Vasconcellos. Ida Queirolo won the large Firenze Bocce team bag which many people have offered to buy from her."

{Just goes to show how one person with some people skills and organizational skills can put together a program that brings enjoyment to a lot of people while promoting our game. Congratulations to Elizabeth for a job well done!}

I’ve seen all kinds of home-made court maintenance brushes and scrapers. Two things have always struck me about them. 1 – they look like they are home-made and 2 – they tend to be HEAVY.

7' Drag Brush

Manufactured by Lee Tennis (makers of the Har-Tru surface material), this court maintenance tool created for tennis courts works exceptionally well for bocce courts. The 7-foot drag brush is light-weight and, even if you have a 13- or 14-foot wide court, you can smooth it over with just two passes. This is quick enough to do between games without keeping players waiting very long.

Bristles are 4 ½ inches of synthetic fibers and the strong but light-weight frame is aluminum. Retails for $179.95 plus shipping.

Lute/scarifier

This strangely named 30” wide device is actually two implements in one. It is an all-aluminum combination tool for scarifying, leveling, and removing loose court material.

Strong and sturdy, the tool is light enough to handle with ease and is excellent for spreading new material during top-dressing. The concave shape of the 30” wide blade allows the tool to “float” along the surface without digging in. Use the serrated edge to scrape material from high spots, then flip the tool over to rake and smooth that spot and drag the loose material to fill in a lower point. Retails for $69.95 plus shipping.

Besides a heavy roller, the lute/scarifier and 7-foot drag brush should be all the maintenance tools a bocce court owner needs.

Please - anyone running a tournament - do me a favor - put a notice near your tourney bracket board informing players that they can go to http://www.joyofbocce.com and "opt in" for my FREE Ezine on bocce. Click the logo to the right to opt in if you do not already receive this ezine every Monday.

Please consider designating someone as "official event photographer" and directing that person to send snapshots for us to reproduce as photos of the week. Our readers love seeing bocce action from around the continent.

April 17, 2010 - New York - Yonkers. Yonkers/Mt.Vernon Bocce Club's annual spring tournament. Must be registered United States Bocce Federation member for 2010. Contact Guy De Santis @ yonkersbocce@aol.com .

Check out the first-rate equipment we offer. The finest measuring devices for bocce (made in UK by Prohawk for lawn bowling, petanque, and bocce) - the finest bocce balls in the world (made in Italy by Perfetta) and the number one selling instructional book on bocce in America - Check them out.Check out the merchandise